Bobbin-monitoring system

ABSTRACT

A bobbin-handling system for a self-tending spinning frame is disclosed. Tenders move back and forth along spinning stations and stop to service the stations as required. For example, the tenders doff filled bobbins, and then donn and thread-up empty bobbins. A belt conveyor encircles the spinning frame and has upper runs for carrying empty bobbins to the tenders and lower runs for receiving filled bobbins from the tenders and discharging the filled bobbins from the system. Special bobbin guides are provided at corners where the conveyor belts cross each other. Empty bobbins are automatically spaced from each other as they are delivered to the conveyor and apparatus is provided for automatically maintaining adequate spacing of the bobbins after they are delivered to the conveyor.

United States Patent Inventor Frank C. Di Mauro Providence, R1.

Appl. No. 863,858

Filed Oct. 6, 1969 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 Assignee Leesona CorporationWarwick, RJ.

BOBBlN-MONITORING SYSTEM 23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

5/l966 Conway et al. l98/34 ABSTRACT: A bobbin-handling system for aself-tending spinning frame is disclosed. Tenders move back and forthalong spinning stations and stop to service the stations as required.For example, the tenders doff filled bobbins, and then donn andthread-up empty bobbins. A belt conveyor encircles the spinning frameand has upper runs for carrying empty bobbins to the tenders and lowerruns for receiving filled bobbins from the tenders and discharging thefilled bobbins from the system. Special bobbin guides are provided atcorners where the conveyor belts cross each other. Empty bobbins areautomatically spaced from each other as they are delivered to theconveyor and apparatus is provided for automatically maintainingadequate spacing of the bobbins after 7 they are delivered to theconveyor.

Meme ecu 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK C. i MAURO F I G. 4

ATTORNEYS BOBBIN-MONITORING SYSTEM This invention relates to a conveyorand to a bobbin-handling system and, more particularly, to such a systemfor automatically handling filled and empty bobbins.

As used herein the term "bobbin" means a core carrying a body of yarn,so that the yarn may be readily moved from place to place, or such acore without a body of yarn thereon. The term filled bobbin" means abobbin whether full or partially full of yarn. The term empty bobbin"means a bobbin which is ready to be donned and filled with yarn. Theterm yarn" is employed in a general sense to apply to all kinds ofstrand material, either textile or otherwise.

Various bobbin-handling systems are known for delivering bobbins to amachine, such as a spinning frame or a winder, and for receiving bobbinsfrom the machine. Generally, such systems entail two separate conveyors,one for the bobbins delivered to the machine and the other for bobbinsreceived from the machine. Such duplication of conveying systemsobviously increases the cost of the overall system. In order tofacilitate handling of the bobbins on conveyor belts it is generallydesirable that the bobbins be maintained spaced within a limited rangefrom each other on the belts. With intersecting conveyor belts,difficulty may be encountered in maintaining the desired spacing betweenthe bobbins on the belts, as well as in negotiating corners as a bobbinis transferred from one belt to anothe The invention, in brief, isdirected to a conveyor and to a bobbin-conveying system in which theconveyor carries empty bobbins in a continuous path about a machine,such as a winder or spinning frame, for delivery of the empty bobbins tothe machine. .The system also removes filled bobbins from the machine. Acontrol system automatically maintains adequate spacing between theempty bobbins by delivering bobbins to the conveyor in spacedrelationship to adjacent bobbins on the conveyor and, as necessary, foradjusting the spacing of bobbins on the conveyor. The bobbins pass fromone conveyor belt to another as they move about corners, and specialbobbin guides are provided at the inside of each corner to urge thebobbins outwardly and against a curved retaining wall at the outside ofthe comer.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedconveyor and bobbin-conveying system.

Another object is to provide a new and improved automaticbobbin-conveying system for delivering bobbins to bobbinhandlingmachine. A related object is provision of such a system forautomatically maintaining a desired spacing between the bobbins beingdelivered. A further related object is provision of such a system forreceiving bobbins from the machine. Another related object is provisionfor conveying bobbins about the machine.

A further object is provision of a new and improved bobbinhandlingsystem which utilizes adjacent portions of a belt conveyor, of theportions for handling empty bobbins and the other of the portions forhandling filled bobbins.

A still further object is provision of a new and improvedbobbin-conveying system for automatically maintaining a desired spacingbetween bobbins on a conveyor.

A further object is provision of a new and improved system for conveyingbobbins about a bobbin-handling machine.

Another object is provision of a conveyor having a new and improvedcorner guide for an article on the conveyor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary, schematic, top view of a preferred embodimentof the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearerillustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic, sectional elevational view takengenerally along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1, with parts broken away andremoved for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken generally along the line4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a control system for the apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a modification of a portion of the control system shown inFIG. 5.

THE SELF-TENDING SPINNING FRAME Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, a machine which is illustrated as a spinning frame 10 (phantomlines) has two tenders 12 which move back and forth along either side ofthe spinning frame and are preferably of the type shown in a LeesonaCorporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,866. In brief, the tenders T2 arecarried on tracks 14 (FIG. 2, only one shown) and are self-propelled formovement back and forth along the adjacent side of the spinning framefor scanning spinning stations (not shown) of the frame. Each tenderstops to provide required services for any of its stations, andthereafter continues scanning the stations. Upon stopping at a station,a tender dofis the filled bobbin at the station, donns an empty bobbinonto the station and then threads the bobbin so that spinning maycontinue. The filled bobbins are dropped into a filled bobbin chute 116.As is suggested in another Leesona Corporation U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,52ll,as an empty bobbin is received by tender 12 it is lifted by an elevator18 (FIG. 2) of the tender in preparation for donning on the spinningframe.

THE BOBBIN CONVEYING SYSTEM In General The bobbin-handling systemincludes a conveyor system 20 which encircles the spinning frame 10 fordelivering empty bobbins 22 to the tenders l2 and for receiving filledbobbins 24 from the tenders. The illustrated conveyor system is a beltconveyor 25 including four conveyor belts including two long belts 26and 28, one for delivering the empty bobbins to each of the tenders 12and for receiving filled bobbins from each of the tenders. These longbelts are interconnected at their adjacent ends by shorter, end belts 30and 32. Upper and lower runs of these belts are identified in thedrawing by the reference symbols U" and L," respectively, followingeither a particular belt reference numeral, as 26U, for example, or thebelt conveyor reference numeral, as 25L.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the belts 26, 28, 30 and 32 run across andare supported by shelves 34, 36, 38 and 40, respectively, which declineinwardly, at about 7, toward retaining walls 42, 44, 46 and 48,respectively. Drive pulleys 50, one for each of the belts 26-32, aredriven through dual takeoff transmissions 52 by suitable motors 54.Thus, one motor 54 drives two of the belts, as 28 and 30, for example.Belt tensioners 56 are provided at ends of the belts opposite theirdrive pulleys.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the empty bobbins 22 travel in acounterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 58, on upper runsof the belts. The belts cross each other at comers 60 and the bobbinsare transferred between the belts at the comers. At each corner, thedelivering belt passes above the receiving belt so that the bobbin dropsfrom the delivering belt to the receiving belt.

Corner Guides With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and particularly to FIG.3, in order to facilitate turning of the bobbins about the corners 60, aconcavely curved inner surface of a wall 62 is provided at the outsideof each comer. At the inside of each corner a bobbin guide 64 isprovided, as may best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each bobbin guide 64 isbetween a convexly curved outer surface of an inner wall of its cornerand adjacent inner edges 66 of the adjacent belts, as 28 and 30 in FIG.3. Adjacent the delivering belt 28 (FIG. 3) the guide 64 has a generallyvertical side 68 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which is flush with or slightly belowthe bobbin carrying or upper face of the delivering belt 28. Along thereceiving belt 30 (FIG. 3) at a point adjacent the delivering belt 28?,the illustrated guide has a generally vertical side 70 (FIGS. 1, 3 and4) which is above the receiving belt 30 byamount approximately equal tothe thickness of the delivering belt 28 and from this point the side 70tapers toward the receiving belt so that it becomes about flush with thereceiving belt. From the adjacent edges of the belts 28 and 30 the guidehas flat surfaces 72 and 74 (FIG. 3 and 4) which ascend inwardly of thecomer from the sides 68 and 70, respectively, and away from the beltsand meet at a ridge line or apex 76. The guides 64 may be of anysuitable low friction material such as nylon, for example. As theleading end of a bobbin engages the outer wall 62 it urges a midportionof the bobbin inwardly toward the apex 76 of the guide whereupon thetailing end of the bobbin is caused to roll on the flat surfaces or theapex and toward the outer wall 62.

Empty Bobbin Supply Hopper Apparatus As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,the conveyor receives the empty bobbins 22 from an escapement mechanism78 of a supply hopper apparatus 80, all as disclosed in a copendingLeesona Corporation US. Pat. application, for Bobbin Orienting andFeeding," by Charles C. Bell and Frank C. DiMauro, Ser. No. 789,283,filed Jan. 6, 1969, to which reference may be had if a more completedescription is desired. In brief, a hopper 82 contains randomly disposedempty bobbins 22. A slotted agitating and orienting member 84 (FIG. 1)moves up and down within the hopper and has an upwardly opening slot 86which receives shanks of the empty bobbins 22 with heads of the bobbinsresting on the top of the member. The member 84 stops at the top of itsstroke. A pusher (not shown) is operated by a pneumatic cylinder 88within-a protective bellows 90, to slide the bobbins out of an open endof the slot 86 and onto declining rods 92. These rods are rotated inopposite directions to slightly lift the bobbins 22 so that the bobbinsmove more easily down the rods to the escapement mechanism 78.

The escapement mechanism includes a double acting pressure-responsivecylinder 94 fixedly mounted relative to the hopper 82. An arm 96 (FIGS.1, 2 and is secured to the cylinders piston rod 98 and extends over thebobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92. A return position of the arm 96provides an abutment 100 which normally extends across the rods 92 toretain the bobbins thereon when the piston rod 98 is retracted. Whenoperating pressure is provided to the cylinder 94 to extend the pistonrod 98, the free end of the piston rod moves between the two lowermostbobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92 to retain all but the lowermostbobbin on the rods 92 as the abutment 100 is withdrawn to release thelowermost bobbin which now drops through notches 102 at the lower endsof the rotating rods and into a tube 104 for delivery to the adjacentupper run 30U of the end belt 30. When the operating pressure isreleased from the cylinder 94, the abutment 100 again moves into itsretaining position as the piston rod 98 is withdrawn to permit thebobbins 22 on the rotating rods 92 to move downwardly so that thelowermost bobbin is retained by the abutment 100.

Empty Bobbin Pickup When one of the tenders 12 requires an empty bobbin22, a bobbin pickup gate 106 of the tender is swung from a closedposition, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, to an open position, asshown by broken lines, in which position the gate 106 extends diagonallyacross the upper run 26U or 28U of the adjacent, long conveyor belt. Theupper run 26U or 28U of the conveyor belt now moves an empty bobbin 22into the tender 12, whereupon the bobbin is picked up by the elevator18, as previously mentioned.

Filled Bobbin Conveying System The filled bobbins 24 are deposited bythe tenders 12 on the associated one of the lower runs 26L or 28L of thelong conveyor belts through a side opening 107 (FIG. 2) at the bottom ofthe filled bobbin chute 16 of the adjacent tender. The filled bobbinsare carried about the machine in a clockwise deposits the bobbins in adischarge chute 1070 has a retaining wall 107b which extends to thechute.

BOBBIN MONITORING CONTROL SYSTEM In General In order that the pickupgates 106 may function more effectively in taking the empty bobbins 22from the upper runs 26U and 28U, means is provided for maintaining theempty bobbins 22 spaced from each other on the conveyor, and fordelivering the empty bobbin 22 to the conveyor 26 with each deliveredbobbin spaced from an immediately preceding bobbin on the conveyor.Herein this means includes the previously described escapement mechanism78, and a bobbinmonitoring control system which regulates operation ofthe escapement mechanism and maintains the bobbins suitably spaced fromeach other. As may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, this system hasfirst and second sensor units 108 and 110, each unit having a sensor 112and 114, respectively, freely pivoted above first and second adjacentbelts 30 and 28, respectively, to swing upwardly as a bobbin passesundemeath. Each time a bobbin engages the sensor 112 of the firstsensing unit 108, a timing function is initiated. If the timing spanexpires before a trailing bobbin engages the sensor 114 of the secondsensor unit (which is upstream from the first sensor unit 108) theescapement cylinder 94 is actuated so that an empty bobbin 22 isdelivered to the upper run 30U of the end conveyor belt 30. If thesecond sensor 114 is engaged by a bobbin before the timing span hasexpired, the timing span is started anew and a bobbin is not deliveredto the conveyor. The control system provides a normal maximum spacing,within a range of spacing, between the empty bobbins upon delivery of abobbin to the conveyor belts, and the maximum spacing is dependent uponthe timing function. An appropriate maximum spacing may be 6 feet, forexample.

As the empty bobbins 22 travel with the upper runs 26U-32U of theconveyor belts, they could be caused to bunch together as by a temporaryobstruction on one of the belts, for example. The monitoring controlsystem also assures adequate minumum spacing between the empty bobbinson the belts, as follows: When the second sensor 114 is engaged by abobbin 22, a bobbin retarding apparatus 115 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 5) isactuated. This apparatus includes a double acting pressure-responsivebobbin-holding cylinder 116 (upstream of the second sensor) which isoperated to move a bobbin-holding abutment 118 on the outer end of itspiston rod across the upper run 28U and inward toward the retaining wall44 so that the abutment 118 engages the head of a bobbin moving with therun 28U and stops the bobbin. When the preceding bobbin engages thefirst sensor after the bobbin has been stopped by the holding abutment118, the holding cylinder 116 is operated to release the held bobbinwhich then continues its travel on the upper runs of the conveyor belts.A normal minimum spacing between the empty bobbins is provided by thecontrol system when a bobbin is released by the holding abutment 118.Such minumum spacing may be one to 3 feet, for example, and depends onthe spacing between the sensors. More than one such holding abutmentand/or hopper apparatus and related sensors may be provided suitablyspaced along the upper runs of the conveyor belts, if desired.

Pnuematic Control System (FIG. 5)

FIG. 5 of the drawings is a diagram of a pneumatic monitoring controlsystem of the bobbin-handling system. Bobbin movement is in thedirection of the arrow 119. The sensor units 108 and 110 are here in theform of normally open bleeds 120 and 122, respectively, one connected toeach of air pilots 12d and 126, respectively, of a vented, three-wayspool valve 12%. Pilot air is provided from a supply line 130 throughconnections within the valve 128. This pilot air is normally ventedthrough the bleeds 120 and 122 of the sensor units 108 and 110. Eachbleed closes when an empty bobbin engages the respective sensor. Whenthe first bleed 120 is closed, the valve member of the three-way spoolvalve 12% is moved to a venting position (as indicated by the phantomarrow T32) thereby venting pilot air (through a vent 134) from a vented,normally open shutoff valve 136, to open the valve 136 and start thetiming function for delivery of a bobbin from the hopper apparatus bl),as will be discussed later. Also, when the first bleed 120 is closed,operating pressure is also vented from the holding cylinder, whereuponcontrol air supplied to the cylinder through a line 138 moves theholding abutment lllltl to release a bobbin if held thereby.

When a bobbin operates the second sensor 1 M to close the bleed 122, thethree-way spool valve 128 is air piloted to connect line pressurethrough the valve (as indicated by the solid arrow M) for operating thebobbin-holding cylinder 1116, thereby causing it to retract its pistonrod and move the abutment 118 into bobbin-holding position. Thethree-way valve 128 now also provides pilot air to the shutoff valve1136, thereby closing and venting this valve through a vent 1 14), sothat if the bobbin delivery timing span has not previously expired,timing stops, as will be discussed next.

Control of the escapement mechanism 7% for delivering an empty bobbin tothe conveyor is as follows: Line pressure is always provided from theline 130 to the inlet of a double vented, four-way air piloted spoolvalve 142 which is normally connected (as indicated by the solid arrowsM4) in circuit with the escapement cylinder to retract its piston rod 98so that, as previously described, the abutment 11% attached to thispiston rod extends across the rotating rods 92 for retaining thelowermost empty bobbin 22 on the rotating rods. In this normal positionof the four-way spool valve M2 it also vents the opposite end of theescapement cylinder 94 through a vent 146, and provides line pressure toa variable flow metering restriction M8. This variable restriction is incircuit, through the previously noted, normally open air piloted shutoffvalve 136, with an accumulator-timer 150. The accumulator-timer 150provides pilot air to an air pilot 152 at one end of the fourway valve.When the pressure in the accumulator-timer 150 rises sufficiently tooperate the air pilot 152, the spool valve member shifts (as indicatedby the phantom arrows 154) to vent, through a vent 156, the piston rodend of the escapement cylinder 94, and to provide line pressure to theend of the escapement cylinder 94 opposite its piston rod for extendingthe piston rod 9% to hold the bobbins on the rotating rods 92 and formoving the escapement abutment 100 to permit the lowermost bobbin on therods 92 to drop into the delivery tube 104 and onto the adjacent upperrun 31W of the conveyor belt. The timing span of the accumulator-timer150 may be varied by adjusting the variable restriction 1411!. However,if the second sensor 1 M is actuated to close the second normally openbleed 122 before pressure in the accumulator-timer 150 builds upsufficiently to shift the valve member of the four-way valve M2, thenthe closed second bleed 122 causes pilot air pressure to shift the valvemember of the three-way vented valve 128 (as indicated by the solidarrow 1450) to provide pilot air to the air pilot of the shutoff valve136, whereupon this valve vents the accumulator-timer 150. Also, thethreeway valve 128 provides line pressure to the bobbin holding cylinder116 whereupon its piston rod is retracted so that its holding abutment118 may retain a bobbin, as previously discussed.

When the escapement cylinder 94 is operated to release a bobbin from therotating rods 92 for delivery of the bobbin to the conveyor belts, asecond accumulator-timer 158 is provided with air through the four-wayvalve M2 and a variable restriction 16th. When pressure in the secondaccumulatortimer 158 builds up sufficiently it actuates an air pilot 162of the four-way spool valve M2 for again connecting the firstaccumulator-timer 1% in circuit for operating the escapement cylinder Mto position the escapement abutment in bobbin holding position acrossthe rotating rods 92. By way of example, the first accumulator-timer 150may be timed for 6 seconds and the second accumulator-timer 158 for onesecond to provide sufficient time for proper operation of the escapementmechanism 7%. The time span of the second accumulator-timer 1% may bevaried by adjusting the variable restriction Mil.

Alternate Pneumatic Control System (FIG. 6)

Referring to HG. b, an alternate control system is shown. The priorreference numerals are retained for identical parts. in this system thepreviously mentioned second sensor unit 11b is eliminated and the firstbleed is replaced by a normally closed, vented shutoff valve 164 whichis manually operated by a pivoted sensor 166, as previously described.The vent 168 of this valve has a variable restriction 170. As a bobbinengages the pivoted sensor 166, the shutoff valve 164 is opened andprovides operating pressure from the supply line to the holding cylinder116, causing its bobbin-holding abutment 1 1b to be moved into positionfor holding a bobbin, as previously described. Opening of the manuallyoperated shutoff valve 16d also provides pilot air to the previouslynoted air piloted, vented shutoff valve 136 which is connected incircuit with the escapement cylinder, as previously described. After thebobbin has moved out of contact with the sensor 166, and the manuallyoperated shutoff valve 164 again closes, the restricted vent 16d slowlybleeds air from the holding cylinder 116 and the air piloted shutoffvalve 136, and serves as an adjustable timer for regulating operation ofthe bobbin holding abutment and the air piloted shutoff valve.

While this invention has been described with reference to particularembodiments in a particular environment, various changes may be apparentto one skilled in the art and the invention is therefore not to belimited to such embodiments or environment except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bobbin conveying system for a bobbin handling machine, said systemcomprising first means including a conveyor for providing bobbins to themachine, and second means for effectively maintaining a substantiallypredetermined range of spacing between bobbins on the conveyor andincluding, means for adjusting the spacing between the bobbins on theconveyor to within said predetermined range of spacing, and furtherincluding means for delivering additional bobbins to said conveyor asnecessary to maintain said predetermined range of spacing with each ofthe delivered bobbins spaced substantially within said range from anadjacent preceding bobbin on the conveyor.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the adjusting meansincludes means for retarding movement of a bobbin on said conveyor, toincrease the spacing of the last said bobbin from an adjacent precedingbobbin on said conveyor.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 in which the retarding meansincludes means operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuatingmeans selectively responsive to passage of said adjacent precedingbobbin for operating the holding means.

t. A system as set forth in claim 3 in which said actuating meansincludes pressure-responsive means operable for operating the holdingmeans, means operable for applying pressure to said pressure-responsivemeans to operate said holding means, sensor means responsive to thepassage of each bobbin for operating the pressure applying means, andmeans for releasing the retarded bobbin to increase said spacing withinsaid range by releasing said pressure from said pressure-responsivemeans.

5. A system as set forth in claim 43, in which said spacing is increasedto at least the minimum of said range of spacing of said bobbins on saidconveyor.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, in which the delivering meansincludes means operable for discharging a bobbin for delivery to saidconveyor, and actuating means selectively responsive to passage of apreceding bobbin for operating said discharging means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6, in which said actuating meansincludes sensor means actuable responsive to passage of each bobbin onsaid conveyor, and means responsive to failure of said sensor means tobe actuated within a predetermined span for operating said dischargingmeans.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7, in which said span correspondsgenerally to the maximum of said range of spacing of said bobbins onsaid conveyor.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said conveyor includes atleast two conveyor belts which cross each other at a comer.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9, in which said conveyor includesmeans for guiding bobbins at said comer, the guiding means includesguide means at the inside of the corner for urging the guided bobbingenerally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes amember having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of saidbelts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said comer and upwardlyfrom said sides.

1]. A system as set forth in claim 10, in which the guide means includesa surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of thecorner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer.

12. A system as set forth in claim 1 in which the aforesaid bobbins areempty bobbins, said conveyor provides means for accepting filled bobbinsfrom the machine, and means for discharging the filled bobbins from theconveyor.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12, in which said conveyor comprisesat least two continuous conveyor belts having upper and lower runs, onefor each of said empty and filled bobbins, and the respective belts ofboth said upper and lower runs cross each other at respective corners.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13, in which said conveyor includesmeans for guiding bobbins at said corners, the guiding means includesguide means at the inside of each comer for urging the bobbin toward theoutside of the corner and including a member having sides, one extendingalong each of adjacent ones of the associated runs, and said member isinclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14, in which the guiding meanscomprises a surface extending upwardly from the respective runs at theoutside of each corner for urging bobbins toward the inside of thecorner.

l6. A system as set forth in claim 15, in which the conveyor provides acontinuous path for the empty bobbins, the adjusting means includesmeans for retarding movement of a bobbin on at least one of said runs,to increase the spacing of the last said bobbin from an adjacentpreceding bobbin on the same run, said retarding means includes meansoperable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating means responsiveto passage of a bobbin for operating the holding means, said actuatingmeans includes pressure-responsive means operable for operating theholding means, means operable for applying pressure to saidpressure-responsive means, sensor means responsive to passage eachbobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and releasing meansfor increasing said spacing of the held bobbin to within said range byreleasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means, to releasethe held bobbin, the delivering means includes means operable fordischarging a bobbin for delivery to said one run, and said actuatingmeans being responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operatingsaid discharging means and including sensor means actuable responsive topassage of each bobbin on said one run, and means responsive to failureof the last said sensor means to be actuated within the maximum of saidrange of spacing of said bobbins for operating said discharging means.

17. A conveyor comprising conveying runs crossing each other at acorner, guide means at the inside of said comer for urging an article onone of the runs toward the outside of the comer, said guide meansincluding a member having sides, one adjacent and extending along eachof the runs, and said member having upper surface means inclinedinwardly of said comer and upwardly from said sides.

18. A conveyor as set forth in claim 17, in which said surface meansincludes surfaces which meet to form an apex.

19. A bobbin-handling system comprising, a bobbin-handling machine, andconveying means including a belt conveyor for carrying the bobbins andproviding a substantially continuous bobbin path about the machine, saidconveyor having belts crossing each other at comers.

20. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which said conveyor includesmeans for guiding bobbins at said comer, the guiding means includesguide means at the inside of the comer for urging the guided bobbingenerally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes amember having sides, one

extending along each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member isinclined inwardly of said comer and upwardly from said sides.

21. A system as set forth in claim 20, in which the guide means includesa surface extending upwardly from said belts at the outside of thecorner for urging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer.

22. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which said belts aretransversely inclined, and means at the bottom of the inclines forretaining the bobbins on the belts.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22, in which adjacent ones of saidbelts cross each other at comers, said conveyor includes means forguiding bobbins at least one of said corner, the guiding means includesguide means at the inside of the one corner for urging the guided bobbingenerally toward the outside of the comer, said guide means includes amember having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of saidbelts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardlyfrom said sides, and the guide means further includes a surfaceextending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the comer forurging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the comer, saidretaining means includes retaining surfaces, one for each of said beltsat said comer, and said surfaces are substantially aligned, one witheach of the guide surfaces of the associated belts.

1. A bobbin conveying system for a bobbin handling machine, said systemcomprising first means including a conveyor for providing bobbins to themachine, and second means for effectively maintaining a substantiallypredetermined range of spacing between bobbins on the conveyor andincluding, means for adjusting the spacing between the bobbins on theconveyor to within said predetermined range of spacing, and furtherincluding means for delivering additional bobbins to said conveyor asnecessary to maintain said predetermined range of spacing with each ofthe delivered bobbins spaced substantially within said range from anadjacent preceding bobbin on the conveyor.
 2. A system as set forth inclaim 1 in which the adjusting means includes means for retardingmovement of a bobbin on said conveyor, to increase the spacing of thelast said bobbin from an adjacent preceding bobbin on said conveyor. 3.A system as set forth in claim 2 in which the retarding means includesmeans operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating meansselectively responsive to passage of said adjacent preceding bobbin foroperating the holding means.
 4. A system as set forth in claim 3 inwhich said actuating means includes pressure-responsive means operablefor operating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure tosaid pressure-responsive means to operate said holding means, sensormeans responsive to the passage of each bobbin for operating thepressure applying means, and means for releasing the retarded bobbin toincrease said spacing within said range by releasing said pressure fromsaid pressure-responsive means.
 5. A system as set forth in claim 4, inwhich said spacing is increased to at least the minimum of said range ofspacing of said bobbins on said conveyor.
 6. A system as set forth inclaim 1 in which the delivering means includes means operable fordischarging a bobbin for delivery to said conveyor, and actuating meansselectively responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operatingsaid discharging means.
 7. A system as set forth in claim 6, in whichsaid actuating means includes sensor means actuable responsive topassage of each bobbin on said conveyor, and means responsive to failureof said sensor means to be actuated within a predetermined span foroperating said discharging means.
 8. A system as set forth in claim 7,in which said span corresponds generally to the maximum of said range ofspacing of said bobbins on said conveyor.
 9. A system as set forth inclaim 1 in which said conveyor includes at least two conveyor beltswhich cross each other at a corner.
 10. A system as set forth in claim9, in which said conveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at saidcorner, the guiding means includes guide means at the inside of thecorner for urging the guided bobbin generally toward the outside of thecorner, said guide means includes a member having sides, one extendingalong each of adjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclinedinwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.
 11. A system asset forth in claim 10, in which the guide means includes a surfaceextending upwardly from said belts at the outside of the corner forurging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the corner.
 12. Asystem as set forth in claim 1 in which the aforesaid bobbins are emptybobbins, said conveyor provides means for accepting filled bobbins fromthe machine, and means for discharging the filled bobbins from theconveyor.
 13. A system as set forth in claim 12, in which said conveyorcomprises at least two continuous conveyor belts having upper and lowerruns, one for each of said empty and filled bobbins, and the respectivebelts of both said upper and lower runs cross each other at respectivecorners.
 14. A system as set forth in claim 13, in which said conveyorincludes means for guiding bobbins at said corners, the guiding meansincludes guide means at the inside of each corner for urging The bobbintoward the outside of the corner and including a member having sides,one extending along each of adjacent ones of the associated runs, andsaid member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardly from saidsides.
 15. A system as set forth in claim 14, in which the guiding meanscomprises a surface extending upwardly from the respective runs at theoutside of each corner for urging bobbins toward the inside of thecorner.
 16. A system as set forth in claim 15, in which the conveyorprovides a continuous path for the empty bobbins, the adjusting meansincludes means for retarding movement of a bobbin on at least one ofsaid runs, to increase the spacing of the last said bobbin from anadjacent preceding bobbin on the same run, said retarding means includesmeans operable for holding the retarded bobbin, and actuating meansresponsive to passage of a bobbin for operating the holding means, saidactuating means includes pressure-responsive means operable foroperating the holding means, means operable for applying pressure tosaid pressure-responsive means, sensor means responsive to passage eachbobbin for operating the pressure applying means, and releasing meansfor increasing said spacing of the held bobbin to within said range byreleasing said pressure from said pressure-responsive means, to releasethe held bobbin, the delivering means includes means operable fordischarging a bobbin for delivery to said one run, and said actuatingmeans being responsive to passage of a preceding bobbin for operatingsaid discharging means and including sensor means actuable responsive topassage of each bobbin on said one run, and means responsive to failureof the last said sensor means to be actuated within the maximum of saidrange of spacing of said bobbins for operating said discharging means.17. A conveyor comprising conveying runs crossing each other at acorner, guide means at the inside of said corner for urging an articleon one of the runs toward the outside of the corner, said guide meansincluding a member having sides, one adjacent and extending along eachof the runs, and said member having upper surface means inclinedinwardly of said corner and upwardly from said sides.
 18. A conveyor asset forth in claim 17, in which said surface means includes surfaceswhich meet to form an apex.
 19. A bobbin-handling system comprising, abobbin-handling machine, and conveying means including a belt conveyorfor carrying the bobbins and providing a substantially continuous bobbinpath about the machine, said conveyor having belts crossing each otherat corners.
 20. A system as set forth in claim 19, in which saidconveyor includes means for guiding bobbins at said corner, the guidingmeans includes guide means at the inside of the corner for urging theguided bobbin generally toward the outside of the corner, said guidemeans includes a member having sides, one extending along each ofadjacent ones of said belts, and said member is inclined inwardly ofsaid corner and upwardly from said sides.
 21. A system as set forth inclaim 20, in which the guide means includes a surface extending upwardlyfrom said belts at the outside of the corner for urging the bobbinsgenerally toward the inside of the corner.
 22. A system as set forth inclaim 19, in which said belts are transversely inclined, and means atthe bottom of the inclines for retaining the bobbins on the belts.
 23. Asystem as set forth in claim 22, in which adjacent ones of said beltscross each other at corners, said conveyor includes means for guidingbobbins at least one of said corner, the guiding means includes guidemeans at the inside of the one corner for urging the guided bobbingenerally toward the outside of the corner, said guide means includes amember having sides, one extending along each of adjacent ones of saidbelts, and said member is inclined inwardly of said corner and upwardlyfrom said sides, and the guide means further includes a surfaceextending upwardly from sAid belts at the outside of the corner forurging the bobbins generally toward the inside of the corner, saidretaining means includes retaining surfaces, one for each of said beltsat said corner, and said surfaces are substantially aligned, one witheach of the guide surfaces of the associated belts.